Somatic Therapy

Reconnecting with Your Body's Wisdom

The journey into and through parenthood is an experience that impacts every part of your being – mind, emotions, and body. While we often focus on the thoughts and feelings associated with fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum, the physical demands, hormonal shifts, and overwhelming stressors of this period are deeply registered within our bodies. If you find yourself feeling constantly overwhelmed, disconnected from your physical self, battling persistent anxiety, or struggling with inexplicable fatigue, somatic therapy offers a powerful and unique path to healing and greater well-being.

As an individual therapist, I understand that many of the challenges in perinatal mental health and parenting manifest physically. My practice is dedicated to providing a safe, gentle, and reflective space where we can explore how your body holds stress, emotions, and past experiences. By cultivating a deeper awareness of your bodily sensations and learning to regulate your nervous system, you can release accumulated tension, reduce anxiety, enhance your capacity for presence, and respond to the demands of parenthood with more calm, resilience, and vitality. This isn't just about coping; it's about fostering a deeper, more integrated connection with yourself.

Understanding the Body's Role in Perinatal Mental Health & Parenting

The perinatal period, encompassing fertility journeys, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, is a time of immense physiological and emotional change. Our bodies are at the forefront of these experiences, often holding the echoes of stress, anxiety, overwhelm, and even joy. Somatic therapy recognizes that mental health challenges during this time are not solely "in your head"; they are often deeply imprinted in your nervous system and physical being.

Here are common experiences where a somatic approach can offer profound support:

  • Persistent Anxiety and Overwhelm: If you feel constantly on edge, restless, or find your mind racing, your nervous system might be in a heightened state of arousal. This can stem from the uncertainties of fertility treatments, the anxieties of pregnancy, or the relentless demands and sleep deprivation of postpartum. Somatic therapy helps to gently down-regulate this activation.

  • Physical Manifestations of Stress: Headaches, muscle tension, digestive issues, chronic fatigue, or a general sense of physical unease can often be the body's way of expressing unmanaged stress or unresolved emotions from the perinatal journey. Somatic work helps to identify and release these physical imprints.

  • Feeling Disconnected from Your Body: During pregnancy, birth, or postpartum recovery, you might feel a disconnect from your own body due to rapid changes, medical interventions, or even a sense of violation. Somatic therapy helps you gently and safely re-establish a sense of ownership and comfort within your physical self.

  • Difficulties with Bonding and Presence: If you struggle to feel fully present with your baby or experience challenges in bonding, it can sometimes be linked to a nervous system that is overwhelmed or habitually disengaged. Somatic practices can help bring you back into your body and into more attuned connection.

  • Intrusive Thoughts or Reliving Difficult Moments: While not necessarily full-blown flashbacks, if you find yourself replaying difficult moments from a fertility procedure, a complicated pregnancy, or a challenging birth, these vivid recollections often have a strong somatic component. Somatic therapy can help to safely process and integrate these memories.

  • Irritability and Emotional Reactivity: When the body is perpetually stressed, it can lead to a shorter fuse, increased irritability, and quicker emotional outbursts. Learning to regulate your nervous system through somatic practices can increase your capacity for patience and calm responsiveness.

  • Sleep Disturbances (beyond infant needs): While newborn sleep patterns are disruptive, if you find yourself unable to relax even when the baby sleeps, or experience a persistent sense of vigilance that prevents deep rest, your nervous system may be stuck in a state of hyperarousal.

  • Identity Shifts and Feeling "Lost": The transformation into parenthood can feel overwhelming. If you feel a deep sense of disconnect from your former self or struggle to embody your new identity, somatic therapy can help integrate these changes at a bodily level, fostering a more cohesive sense of self.

  • Relationship Strain: Chronic stress and a dysregulated nervous system can impact intimacy and communication with your partner. Somatic work can help you feel more grounded and present, improving your capacity for connection and co-regulation within your relationship.

By cultivating a mindful awareness of your body's signals and engaging in specific somatic practices, you can gain profound insights into your emotional landscape and develop powerful tools for self-regulation, leading to greater peace and presence in your perinatal and parenting journey.